Apparatus for producing coated paperlike blanks



United States Patent [72] inventor HarryA. Lockwood References Cited p t, Connecticut (c/ m, 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Fitchsl'EaslNwwalkcomcut- 778,049 12/1904 Ladewig 118/37 "6855) 930,911 8/1909 Wright 118/37 1 pp 696,962 1,085,230 1/1914 Wildetal. 34/165X [221 Filed kc-11,1967 1,160,693 11/1915 Compton 118/35 [451 Patented 1,542,482 6/1925 Staszaketal. 118/37x 1,871,272 8/1932 Jongedyk 83/639X 2,693,429 11/1954 Radtkeetal. 118/202x 3,352,279 11/1967 Lockwood ll8/202X 3,447,508 6/1969 Clem 118/602X [54] APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COATED PAPERLIKE BLANKS 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 118/6, 118/37, 118/59, 118/249 [51] Int. Cl. ..B05c ll/00, 1305c H02 [50] Field ofSeai-ch 118/37, 35, 4, 202, 6, 602, 7, 249, 59; 34/165, 166, 179; 83/277, 639

Primary Examiner-John P. McIntosh Att0rneyH. Gibner Lehmann ABSTRACT: Method and apparatus for producing paper disks coated with sodium fluorescein, which embraces intermittently moving a paper web past a blanking station at which disks are punched out and dropped between rotating juxtaposed rollers. One roller carries a coating of a sodium fiuorescein-alcohol solution, which deposits on the disks as they pass between the rollers.

COATINQ AFFLICAIG? "r1: AY

COATINC SUPPLY Patented Oct. 27, 1970 INVENTOR. Ha y A. Lockwood.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to the producing of chemically treated or coated paperlike blanks, and more particularly to the producing of small flat shapes which are coated with tree water-detecting chemicals such as potassium fluorescein, sodium fluorescein and the like. Blanks of this type are used as filters in detecting and determining the free water content of kerosene and other jet fuels, or solutions of low water solubili- One prior arrangement for producing such articles involved brushing or otherwise depositing on paper blanks the chemicals in dry, particulate form. This procedure did not produce a high degree of unifonnity in the finished articles, and also was characterized by loss of the chemical from the product during shipping, handling, etc.

Other proposals involved spraying the blanks with an alcohol solution of the chemical. However, no satisfactory or advantageous apparatus or procedure was disclosed, by which the coating could be satisfactorily economically carried out in mass production with the high degree of accuracy and reproducibility which is required.

SUMMARY The present invention obviates the drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior methods and equipment for producing the indicated articles, and one object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method for blanking and coating paperlike sheet material, by which there is eflected a high rate of production and also a high degree of uniformity.

This is accomplished by intermittently moving a strip or web from a continuous supply roll of paperlike stock past a blanking station at which blanks are punched from the strip. The punched blanks are allowed to fall between juxtaposed rollers located side by side. One roller is provided continuously with a coating of an alcohol solution of fluorcscein. The blanks which pass between the rollers are in turn coated on one side and drop onto a dryer and then into a container.

The blanks dwell on the dryer, being preferably progressively moved along the same, so as to be quickly, effectively and uniformly dried to minimize penetration of the coating into the material of the blank.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved apparatus and method as above, wherein only preselected portions of the rollers repeatedly engage the successive blanks and wherein the roller spacing is precisely adjusted and controlled; also, an apparatus and method wherein the concentration of the coating solution is accurately maintained, all of the above factors helping to insure the greatest possible degree of uniformity of the coating and resultant product; to provide a method and apparatus as above which is simple, economical, foolproof in operation, and easily carried out and operated; and an apparatus which is relatively small and compact, and not likely to get out of order or require frequent servicing.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammattic representation of an apparatus and method for producing chemically treated paperlike blanks in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the discharge chute, illustrating an escapement mechanism associated therewith.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through an eccentric bushing for the leftmost roller shown in FIG. 2.

The apparatus as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is arranged to be mounted on a common framework, which has been in large part omitted for the sake of clarity and simplicity of illustration. However, it will be understood that a rigid machine frame is intended to be utilized for mounting, at the apfl propriate locations, the various components and assemblages illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Considering first FIG. 1, the apparatus comprises a supply roll of continuous sheet or strip of highly absorbent paperlike stock 10 carried on a suitable spindle 12 which is mounted in a bearing or framework support 14. The strip from the supply roll 10 is indicated at 16, said strip passing over a directionchanging roller 18 carried by a support 20 and extending substantially horizontally from the roller 18 over a predrying heater to a second direction-changing roller 22 carried by a bearing support 24. From the roller 22, the strip 16 passes downward and is wound into a scrap roll 26 fastened to a takeup shaft 28 being supported in a bearing or framework support 32. The friction disk 30 is engaged by a small diameter, friction drive wheel 34 carried by a slow-speed horizontal shaft 36 which is driven by a gear head motor 28. Slippage can intentionally occur between the drive wheel 34 and the friction disk 30, and the speed of takeup of the shaft 28 with no slippage is greater than the maximum required by the speed of travel of the strip 16 as efi'ected by a strip feed mechanism described below, when the roll 26 is of smallest size. Thus the slippage compensates for difi'erent speeds of the shaft 28 and disk 30 as occasioned by the build-up of scrap on the roll 26.

It will be understood that the motor 38 may be continuously energized, whereby the shaft 36 continuously turns even though the strip 16 is at a standstill during part of the time, this being made possible by the slippage between the wheel 34 and friction disk 30.

The strip 16 is moved past a blanking station designated generally by the numeral 40, said station having a punch 42 operated by a fluid power unit or air cylinder 44, and having a cooperable die 46 with the usual discharge passage 48. through which punched blanks can pass and drop as the punch 42 is reciprocated.

In accordance with the present invention, the punched blanks from the strip 16 are deposited one by one between a pair of adjustable cooperable rollers 50, 52 (FIG. 2) disposed side-by-side in close juxtaposition and at a location adjacent the die 46 to receive and pass between them the blanks traveling through and leaving the passage 48 of the die. The rollers 50, 52 constitute part of a unit which I term a applicator", this being designated generally by the numeral 54 in FIG. I and being shown in detail in FIG. 2.

Besides the rollers 50, 52 the applicator unit 54 comprises a pickup roller 56 which extends into a tray 58 arranged to carry a coating substance or liquid which, for example, may comprise a suspension of a denatured alcohol solution containing sodium fluorescein or other fluorescing dye.

Punched paperlike blanks which are coated with such solution and allowed to dry, constitute effective free water detectors when subjected to samples of kerosene suspected of containing undissolved or free water, or other solutions of low water solubility.

The pickup roller 56 engages the transfer roller 52 whereby the liquid coating substance on the surface of the pickup roller 56 will be transferred to the roller 52 and thereafter partially transferred to blank disks which are dropped from the passage 48 of the die 46 into the entering space 60 of the rollers 50, 52.

The roller 50 is adjustable to bring it closer to or further from the roller 52, by means of eccentric bushings 49 (FIG. 5) carrying the shaft 51 of the roller 50, said bushings being rigid with arms 53 which are adjusted by screws 55. The bushings 49 are carried in bearing blocks 57, as will be understood. The spacing of the rollers 50, 52 determines the amount of coating applied to the punched blanks and with the illustrated arrangement a very fine and accurate control of the spacing is possible. A greater spacing results in more of the coating, and vice versa.

A chute 62 may lead from the die 46 to guide the dropping blank disks, and the chute 62 may have an inwardly displaced side wall 64 arranged to engage the dropping disks and to orient them whereby they strike the rollers 52, 50 partially or somewhat edgewise.

By the present invention, the rollers 50, 52 and 56 are all driven simultaneously and at the same speed, by means of sprockets 66, 68, 70 and a chain 72, the latter passing over an idler sprocket 74 and around a drive sprocket '76 carried on the continuously turning shaft 36. A smoothing or antistreaking roller 78 engages the upper portion of the transfer roller 52 just prior to contact with the blank and distributes evenly the coating sustance which has been transferred from the pickup roller 56.

It will now be understood that with the above organization, actuation of the punch 42 will punch out a blank from the strip 16, said blank passing downwardthrough the passage 48 of the die and through the extension chute 62, and dropping between the oppositely rotating rollers 50, 52 at least one of which is provided with a coating substance from the pickup roller 56. The blanked disk in passing between the rollers 50, 52 will be coated on one side with the coating substance, and thereafter it will drop down under the action of gravity, after leaving the rollers 50, 52 into a drying chute 77 and thereafter into envelopes held by the operator. The chute 77 is heated by a heater 79. The uncoated sides of the blanks engage the sloping heated chute 77, with the result that the coating is quickly evaporated and dried, minimizing the impregnating action or penetration on the absorbent material and instead keeping the dye more on the surface of the blank, as a true coating.

The coated disks d in accordance with the invention, are made to dwell on the heated chute by means of an escapement mechanism shown in FIG. 4. This mechanism is synchronized with the punch 42, and comprises a plurality of shafts 75 spaced along the chute and having arms 81 connected to a link 83 which is in turn connected to the punch 42 in a manner later described.

The arms 81 have spring wires 85 and 87 which alternately engage the chute 77 and permit the coated paper blanks to drop only short distances in traversing the chute. When, as shown, the punch 42 is raised, the wires 85 engage the chute 77 and act as stops. When the punch 42 is lowered, the wires 85 disengage the chute 77 and the wires 87 engage the chute, acting as stops. The escapement as above set forth helps to assure uniformity in the drying of the blanks.

In accordance with the invention, to render the coating of the blanked disks most effective, the strip 16 is dried by heating prior to being advanced onto the blanking station 40. This may be effected by one or more electric heating coils 80 mounted in a suitable carrier frame 82 and energized by lead wires, as shown. One heating coil 80 is shown as disposed below the strip 16 and if a second coil is used it is disposed above the strip. The coil 80 operates by radiation, drying the strip and removing virtually all of the moisture content prior to the strip arriving at the blanking station 40. Further, in accordance with the invention, a novel automatic or semiautomatic control system is provided for effecting intermittent movement of the strip 16, and effecting repeated operation of the punch 42 as well as effecting engagement between the dropped blanks and only certain selected duplicated portions of the rollers 50, 52, said portions contacting succeeding blanks whereas other portions of the rollers normally never come in contact with the said blanks.

By such organization it is possible to effect an advantageous uniformity of coating of the blanks, independently of slight variations in the eccentricity of the rollers 50, 52. It will be understood that the rollers 50, 52 are locked together in their opposite turning movements by the sprockets 66, 68 and the chain 72. Thus, predetermined succeeding surfaces of the rollers always mate with each other, and only certain selected peripheral portions of the rollers are repeatedly brought into contact with the blank disks as these successively fall down the chute 62.

In effecting the foregoing, the driving movement of the punch 42 is controlled in accordance with predetermined rotative positions of the transfer roll 52. The air cylinder 44 of the punch is controlled by a solenoid valve 84 connected with a compressed air supply 86. The solenoid valve 84 has a coil (not shown) connected in series with an electric switch 88 which is in turn connected in series with an electric foot switch 90, the said components being fed by power leads 92. The switch 88 has a lever operator 94 which is actuated by a singlearmed cam 96 which turns with the roller 52.

By such organization, when the foot switch is closed, the switch 88 will close once during each revolution of the roller 52, resulting in the punch 42 punching out one blank for each revolution of the roller 52. During the intervals of no punching, the strip 16 is advanced, by means of an air cylinder 98 connected with a valve 100 which is actuated by an arm 102 carried by the punch 42 at the times that the latter is raising or returning upward.

The valve 100 is connected by a supply line 104 with the compressed air supply 86. The air cylinder 98 has a plunger 106 connected to a pivoted arm 108 carried by a bearing bracket 110. The arm 108 is urged clockwise by a return spring 112 and has an opening 114 through which the strip 16 passes. The arm 108 has an angular gripper tab 116 which is engageable with the underside of the strip 16, and has a pivoted upper gripper tab 118 engageable with theupper side of the strip. An abutment 120 limits the counterclockwise or driving movement of the arm 108 as effected by the air cylinder 98.

With the above organization, the raising movement of the punch 42 will operate the valve 100, energizing the air cylinder 98 and forcing the plunger 106 thereof to the left, shifting the feed arm 108 to the left and causing the gripper tabs 116, 118 to pull the strip 16 from right to left to a halted position determined by the stop 120.

When the punch 42 descends to blank out a portion of the strip 16, the valve 100 is closed and the air cylinder is vented, enabling the return spring 112 to shift the feed arm 108 in a clockwise direction. Such shifting will not be accompanied by any movement of the strip 16 inasmuch as the gripper tabs 116, 118 act only in one direction on the strip, that is, in a manner to shift the strip from right to left.

After the punch 42 has completed its blanking operation and returns to the raised position, the valve 100 is again opened, energizing the air cylinder 98 and shifting the feed arm 108 counterclockwise. The gripper tabs 116, 118 now pick up the strip 16 and advance the same to bring a fresh portion of the strip under the punch 42, for a succeeding blankin operation.

In accordance with the invention, in conjunction with the volatile and hygroscopic nature of the alcohol solution carried by the tray 58, there is provided a closed supplycontainer 122 for such solution, connected by suitable lines with a pump 124 and with the tray 58. The pump 124 is operated continuously, whereby the solution from the supply container 122 is continuously moved through the tray 58 and returned. The amount of solution which is utilized is only that which .is picked up by the pickup roller 56 and the small amount lost in evaporation. Virtually no loss by evaporation is had from the closed container 122. By making the container 122 and supply large, the percentage loss of coating is relatively small. The constant circulation helps to maintain the coating uniform in consistency.

Also, in accordance with the invention, the concentration of the coating solution is maintained uniform by continuously adding minute amounts of the volatile liquid or alcohol, and by checking. Connected to the supply tank 122 is a supply line 121 having a needle valve 123 and a container 125 having the solvent liquid. By adjustment of the valve 123 a drip feed is effected to the supply tank 122, which makes up for evaporatio loss of the liquid vehicle.

The punch arm 102 has an eye 103 which is connected to the link 83 to operate the escapement shown in FIG. 4, as may be readily understood.

FIG. 3 shows a portion of the strip 16 after the blanks have been punched out by the punch 42 and die 46 at the blanking station.

it will now be understood from the foregoing that l have provided a noval and improved, relatively simple method and apparatus by which there is produced flat, coated, paperlike, punched blanks from a continuous supply roll of paperlike sheet stock. The apparatus carried out the novel method, comprising the producing of flat coated paperlike punched blanks by the steps of intermittently moving a strip of sheet stock past a blanking station having a punch and die, punching blanks from said strip at said station during the periods of rest of the strip, dropping the punched blanks one by one from said die and passing them between a pair of rotating rollers one of which is coated with a coating substance, said rollers being disposed side-by-side in close juxtaposition. The method additionally embraces the step of continuously turning the rollers and dropping the blanks only when the rollers are at given predetermined rotative positions which are repeatedly duplicated, whereby only certain selected portions of the rollers repeatedly contact and coat the blanks. By such method there is effected a desirable uniformity in the coating of the blanks. The method and apparatus are especially simple, and may be economically constructed and carried out. A relatively high rate of production is effected, the operation is semiautomatic, and the coated blanks are characterized by a high degree of uniformity.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portion of the improvement may be used without others.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for producing flat, coated paperlike punched blanks from a continuous supply roll of paperlike sheet stock comprising, in combination:

a. a blanking station including a punch and die;

b. means for moving said sheet stock past said blanking station;

c. said die having a discharge opening through which the punched blanks pass;

d. a pair of cooperable rollers disposed side by side in close juxtaposition and adjacent said die to receive and pass between them the blanks traveling through and leaving the die;

e. means for driving at least one of said rollers;

f. means for coating said driven roller with a substance which is to be transferred onto the said blanks; and

g. means responsive to attainment by the drive roller of only repeated, duplicated predetermined rotative positions, for efiecting intermittent repeated actuations of said punch, thereby to deliver the blanks for engagement by only preselected portions of the rollers to attain accurate uniformity of the coating.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, and further including:

a. means for operating said sheet-moving means to advance the sheet stock a predetermined distance in response to return of the punch after each actuation thereof.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, and further including:

a. means conditioned in response to turning of the driven roller, for operating said sheet-moving means to advance the sheet stock a predetermined distance after each actuation of said punch.

Apparatus as in claim 3, and further including:

a manually operable electric switch;

. said means for effecting repeated actuations of the punch including a fluid power unit for the punch, a solenoid valve controlling said power unit, and an electric swtich operated by the driven roller and series connected with said manually operable switch and solenoid of the solenoid valve.

Apparatus as in claim 1, and further including:

a. means including a shaft carrying one roller and eccentric bushings on said shaft, for minutely adjusting the spacing between the rollers, thereby to regulate the amount of coating applied to the blanks. Apparatus as in claim 1, and further including:

a heated chute to receive the blanks from the discharge opening; and

b. said chute being disposed on a slope and receiving the blanks with the uncoated sides thereof in engagement with the chute.

7. Apparatus for producing flat, coated, paperlike, punched blanks from a continuous supply roll of paperlike sheet stock comprising, in combination:

a. a blanking station including a punch and die;

b. means for moving said sheet stock past said blanking station;

c. said die having a discharge opening through which the punched blanks pass, wherein the improvement comprises;

d. a pair of cooperable rollers disposed side by side in close juxtaposition and adjacent said die to receive and pass between them the blanks traveling through and leaving the die;

e. means for driving at least one of said rollers;

f. means for coating said driven roller with a substance which is to be transferred onto the said blanks;

g. means for drying the coated blanks immediately after they leave said rollers;

h. said means for drying the blanks comprising a heated chute into which the blanks drop; and

i. an escapement mechanism for controlling movement of the blanks along the chute, to effect intemiittent movement of the blanks whereby they dwell in the chute to cause a more thorough and uniform drying of the coating.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7, and further including:

a. means responsive to attainment by the driven roller of a plurality of repeated, duplicated and predetermined rotative positions, for respectively effecting a plurality of repeated actuations of said punch, thereby to deliver the blanks for engagement by preselected portions of the rollers to attain accurate uniformity of the coating. 

